
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 


Cij;i}!. ’ Cqiurigljl I)o- 

ShelfXI22 3 

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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 























































THE 


FIREMAN’S GUIDE. 


A HANDBOOK 

OK 

THE CARE OF BOILERS: 

BY TEKNOLOGFORENINGEN T. I., STOCKHOLM. 
TRANSLATED PROM THE THIRD EDITION, 

AND REVISED 


BY KARL P. DAHLSTROM, M.E. 


SY 


/ 







washing! 

E. & F. N. SPON, 

OW YORK: 35 MURRAY STREET. 
London : 125 Strand. 


1886. 












T J Z « S> 






Copyright, 1886, by Karl P. Dahlstrom. 







PREFACE 


Having noticed that boiler explosions too frequently 
occur through neglect or incompetency of the attend¬ 
ant, the translator has, with a view to lessen the num¬ 
ber of such occurrences, placed this little book before 
the public ; and he trusts that firemen, engineers and 
even boiler-owners may find in it much that may he 
of service to them. 

The hook was originally written and published in 
Sweden by a society of experienced engineers (Tek- 
nologforeningen T^I., Stockholm) urging that the 
best way to prevent accident and afford a saving 
of fuel was to give strict regulations as to how a 
boiler should be fired and managed. It was favor¬ 
ably received by the public and has passed through 
several editions. 

The book is in two parts, the first of which con¬ 
tains, more extensively, rules and directions for the 
general care of boilers ; the second a summary of reg¬ 
ulations. 

It has been the aim of the translator through this 
work to use only such words and phrases as shall be 


IV 


THE FIREMAN’S GUIDE. 


readily understood by all classes for whom it is 
written. 

I desire to return my best thanks to Messrs. J. E. 
Greensmith and T. M. North for much valuable assist¬ 
ance rendered in the translation and revision of this 
work. 


Karl P. Dahlstrom, M.E. 


Mason Machine Works, Taunton, Mass. 
October 9, 1884. 


CONTENTS 


Page. 

Introduction. .1 

CHAPTER I. 

Firing and Economy of Fuel.2 

CHAPTER II. 

Feed and Water-line.9 

CHAPTER III. 

Low Water and Foaming or Priming. ... 13 

CHAPTER IV. 

Steam-Pressure. ..15 

CHAPTER V. 

Cleaning and Blowing Out..17 

CHAPTER VI. 

General Directions.21 

Summary of Rules. .. 23 









THE FIREMAN’S GUIDE. 


INTRODUCTION. 

The proper management of a boiler is of just as 
much importance as its proper construction, as it is 
liable to get out of order and become dangerous. Be¬ 
sides, it is necessary, in case of danger, to know whftt 
precautions should be taken to prevent accidents and 
save life and property. 

The fireman’s duties are thus of far more impor¬ 
tance and claim far more knowledge than is generally 
understood, and his responsibilities are great. To at¬ 
tend to his business in a proper manner, he should know 
his duties exactly and be reliable, sober, and careful. 
The safety of himself and fellow-workmen and the 
durability of the tools and appliances in his care de¬ 
pending on his doing his duties very faithfully, he 
should always do his best to keep his boiler in good 
condition and make himself familiar with its proper¬ 
ties. 

It can be learned only by experience how to fire in 
the best and most economical manner with different 
kinds of fuel, and what is said here in this matter is 
therefore to be regarded only as a direction. 


2 


THE FIREMAN’S GUIDE. 


As to the management of the boiler, it is of the 
greatest importance for the fireman to obtain necessary 
instruction, as faults and neglect that to people of 
inexperience seem to be of little note may often cause 
the most disastrous results. It is necessary that the 
fireman should pay strict attention to what there is 
to learn in this matter, and the following rules are a 
compendium of the principles every boiler-owner and 
fireman should thoroughly know, and the action that 
should be taken in regard to the safe management of 
boilers. 


Chapter I. 

a FIRING AND ECONOMY OF FUEL. 

Precautions before Starting the Fire. 

Before starting the fire the fireman should see : 

1. That there is sufficient water in the boiler ; 

2. That the furnace* and flues are clean, and 

3. That the grate-bars are in their right places ; 

4. That there is nothing left in the furnace or 
flues (in case of repair having been made), and 

5. That the upper gauge-cock is open to let out 
the air from the boiler, while steam is forming. 

6. When the boiler is fed by hand-pump, he should 
see that this is in a good condition. 

7. That dampers and doors move easily, and 

8. That all other parts of the boiler are in com¬ 
plete order. 


* In order to gain more simplicity of language, the word “furnace” 
is used through this work instead of the more correct “furnace or 
fire-box.” 




THE FIREMAN’S GUIDE. 


3 


He must not rely on the supposition that the water, 
he has previously put in, is still in the boiler, as it may 
have run out, without his knowledge, through a leak 
or any open cock. He can neither be sure that the 
glass gauge shows the true water-mark, until he has 
examined it. This is done in the following manner : 
shut off the lower gauge-cock and empty the glass by 
the lower glass-cock ; then shut the glass-cock and 
open the gauge-cock ; if everything is all right, the 
water will now rise in the glass to the same height as 
before. 

After Starting the Fire. 

After starting the fire, and the steam-pressure hav¬ 
ing begun to rise, he should see : 

1. That all the joints and packings are tight, and 

2. That all the cocks and valves move easily. 

The Care of the Fire. 

The fire must not be hurried too much, but should 
be left to gain its full strength slowly. This is done 
easiest by putting in only a small quantity of fuel at 
a time . By proceeding in this way, a nicer fire will be 
obtained in a shorter time than by heaping too much 
fuel, as this chokes the fire instead of increasing its 
force, thus causing a loss of time and fuel. 

Proper Firing. 

It is fired properly when the fuel is consumed in 
the best possible way, no more being burned than 
what is needed for producing a sufficient quantity of 
steam and keeping the steam pressure even. For this 
purpose, there must be a complete combustion in the 


4 


THE FIREMAN’S GUIDE. 


furnace, and it is going on when the fuel is burning 
with a bright flame, equally all over the grate. 

A blue flame, dark spots, and smoke show that the 
combustion is not complete, and should be carefully 
prevented. When the incomplete combustion is due 
to want of air, it can be overcome by increasing the 
draft. 

Regulating the Draft. 

In order to make a complete combustion possible, 
the draft must be so regulated as to get just the right 
quantity of air into the furnace, neither too much nor 
too little. The dampers and doors should therefore 
be managed with very much judgment. If possible, 
the doors should be so arranged as to facilitate the 
regulating of the air-holes. 

After every firing, a small quantity of air should be 
let in over the grate through the regulating holes, or 
by keeping the furnace door a little while ajar. 

Smoke from the Chimney. 

Dark and heavy smoke from the chimney shows in¬ 
complete combustion and should be avoided, as a 
zvaste of fuel takes place. Most kinds of coal, how¬ 
ever, immediately after firing give more or less smoke, 
that cannot be prevented. 

The Progress of Firing. 

It should be fired equally and regularly. The fuel 
should be put in frequently, each time only so much 
as is needed to maintain a bright fire. More than 
necessary being thrown in, the fire is cooled off and 


THE FIREMAN’S GUIDE. 


5 


the circulation of air is hindered ; if too little be put 
in, the fire cannot be kept up satisfactorily, as it soon 
grows so thin that more air passes through the grate 
than is advantageous for a complete combustion. 

The Fuel on the Grate. 

The grate must always be kept well covered with a 
fire of equal thickness. Bare spots must never be 
allowed, but should be covered over directly they 
appear, as cold air passes through in these places. 

The thickness of the fire is to be in accordance with 
the quality and size of the fuel, in order to let through 
the proper quantity of air. 

You should never put in coals of larger size than 
your fist. The coal being “ hard,” the fire should be 
as thin as possible, from three to six inches deep : 
when “soft” coal is used, the fire should be thicker, 
from five to eight inches deep. 

Peat and coke should be burned in a very thick fire, 
the former of ten to fifteen inches, the latter of fifteen 
to twenty inches in depth. 

Wood should be burned in a very heavy fire. 

Fire and Clean Out Rapidly. 

When firing or cleaning out is going on, the furnace 
door should be kept open only a short while, as too 
much cold air cools off the grate. Besides, the boiler 
is liable to get damaged, as every sudden change of 
heat occasions a sudden contraction or expansion of 
the boiler-sheets, causing leaky seams. Every un¬ 
necessary opening of the door should he dispensed with. 


6 


THE FIREMAN’S GUIDE. 


Decrease the Draft when Firing*. 

It is a good plan to decrease the draft when firing 
or cleaning out, by partly closing the damper or shut¬ 
ting off the access of air from below the grate, in 
order to have only draft enough to prevent the flame 
from rushing out when the door is opened. 

Do not Stir the Fire. 

Stirring the fire should be avoided as much as possi¬ 
ble, as it causes a waste of fuel by disturbing the com¬ 
bustion and by making fuel fall through the grate 
into the ash-pan. 


Cleaning Out. 

In firing with coal and coke, when so much slag is 
formed that the draft is suffering, the grate should be 
cleaned by slowly breaking up the cakes of slag with 
a poker and pulling them out. Rocking grates facili¬ 
tate the cleaning considerably. 

The furnace being large, it is best to clean half of 
it at a time. 

The fire should be cleaned no oftener than is 
necessary, as cold air enters the furnace while this 
work is going on. 

Cleaning the Grate-bars and Ash-pan. 

In order to protect the grate-bars and maintain the 
draft, the ash-pan and the space between the bars 
should be kept clean. The spaces are cleaned from 
below with a claw, and the ashes in the pan are 
pulled out with a rake or hoe. 


THE FIREMAN’S GUIDE. 


7 


Never Shut the Damper while there is Fire 
on the Grate. 

Tlie damper must never be entirely closed while 
there is fire on the grate, as explosions dangerous to 
the boiler might occur in the flues. To “bank” the 
;lire at night—that is, to push it hack on the grate 
and coyer it oyer with fresh fuel—in order to have it 
ready in the morning, is dangerous, as it might cause 
gas explosions in the flues by a blazing up of the fire, 
if air comes in and is mixed with the gases derived 
from the fuel. 

Care of the Fire during Short Stops in the Work. 

There being no need of extinguishing the fire while 
the boiler is not working—for instance, during short 
interruptions in the work—the damper must not be 
entirely closed, only shut off a little, so as to make 
the fire burn gently. At stops over night , it is safest 
to draw the fire and rekindle a new fire in the 
morning. 

Dampers and Doors to Furnace and Ash-pan to be 
Closed when the Fire is Drawn. 

The dampers and doors to the furnace and ash-pan 
should always be closed after the fire has been drawn, 
in order to keep the heat of the boiler as long as 
possible. 

Firing into Two or More Furnaces. 

When there are two or more furnaces leading to the 
same chimney, they should be alternately fired, so 
that, when new fuel is thrown into one, there shall be 
a complete combustion in the others. 


8 


THE FIREMAN’S GUIDE. 


Dry Fuel. 

The fuel should be dry when used, as, if this is not 
the case, heat is lost, more than necessary being 
wasted; besides, when the fuel is wet, pitchy sub¬ 
stances separate from the smoke and fasten to the 
sides of the tubes and flues, and so catch soot and fine 
ashes as they are carried along in the draft, forming a 
coating which hinders the conduction of heat through 
the metal and makes the cleaning more difficult. The 
fuel, therefore, should be well protected from mois¬ 
ture, especially when porous substances, as peat and 
wood, are used. 

“Hard” coal, however, which generally is liable 
to crowd together on the grate, should be dampened 
before being thrown in, as it is then less liable to 
crowd and will burn more freely. 

Loss of Heat. 

In order to save fuel, all loss of heat, of course, 
should be carefully avoided. For this purpose,, the 
boiler, flues and furnace should always be cleaned 
frequently. Blowing off steam through the safety- 
valves or opening the furnace doors always cause a 
loss of heat, and should never occur where the fire is 
properly cared for. 



THE FIREMAN’S GUIDE. 


9 


Chapter II. 

FEED AND WATER-LINE. 

Feeding. 

The feeding of the boiler should be so regulated as 
to take place evenly and continuously and to keep the 
water-line to the determined height . 

It can easily be done when a pump is used; but 
when feeding with injectors, it is generally more diffi¬ 
cult unless the feeding be done frequently, a little 
water at a time. 

As the boiler is cooled off when feeding is going on, 
the furnace should not be re-fired at the same time, as 
this also tends to cool off the boiler. When, however, 
continuous feed is used, it should not be shut off ivlien 
firing . 


The Water-line. 

The height of the water should be kept as constant 
as possible , according to the construction of the boiler 
from four to eight inches above the highest parts of 
the furnace or flues touched by the flame or the hot¬ 
test gasses. The point corresponding to the lowest 
water-line should always be plainly marked on the 
glass gauge. 


False Water-line. 

In boilers of high-pressure and small steam-room, 
it is often observed that the water surface in the glass 
gauge rises, when the throttle-valve is opened, thus 
showing a higher point than the true water-line. 


10 


THE FIREMAN’S GUIDE. 


Defective Feeding Apparatus. 

If the water-line be decreasing although the feed 
apparatus is working , there are apparently defects 
somewhere , which prevent it from giving a sufficient 
supply of water. Such troubles are generally due to : 

1. Leakage of the suction pipe. 

2. Choking in the pipes ; 

3. The valves not being tight; or 

4. Superheating of the pump, and 

5. Yery often bad construction. 

When there is a test-cock on the pump, it can easily ' 
be ascertained if the pump is working properly. 

Formation of Scale. 

When steam is forming, the water only evaporates, 
and all foreign substances remain in the boiler, forming 
what is called “scale,” being more or less hard incrusta¬ 
tion on the sides of the boiler and tubes. Such incrus¬ 
tation being detrimental to the boiler and dangerous to 
its existence when thickly accumulated should be pre¬ 
vented, if possible. Some substances are successfully 
mixed in the water in order to neutralize the impurities 
and form a softer scale. Such are : pure coal-oil and 
sal soda, when the water contains sulphate of lime, and 
molasses etc., when carbonate of lime. 

The Water. 

The water should be as soft as can be procured, as 
it gives a looser scale than hard water. Where scale 
occurs, it should be removed frequently. In order to 
save fuel, the water should be slightly heated before 
feeding. Still, care should be taken not to have it 
too hot, as pumps and injectors do not then work well. 


THE FIREMAN’S GUIDE. 


11 


Arrangements for Ascertaining the Water-line. 

There are used to ascertain the water-line in the 
boiler— 

1. Gauge-cocks, 

2. Glass-gauges, and 

3. Floats. 

The Gauge Cocks. 

The gauge-cocks should be so arranged that the bot¬ 
tom-cock is a few inches below and the top-cock a few 
inches above the water-line, the latter thus being in 
connection with the steam-room. When there are 
three cocks, the central one is placed on the water¬ 
line. They should be opened many times daily, and 
the top-cock should always give steam and the bottom- 
cock water. They should be kept open long enough 
to make sure whether steam or water escapes ; with a 
little experience this can be detected by the sound. 

They should be so constructed as to admit of their 
being cleaned by passing an iron wire through. 

The Glass Gauge. 

The glass-gauge is so applied that its top-cock con¬ 
nects with the steam-room, and its bottom-cock is be¬ 
low the water-line. The water-line will be shown in 
the centre of the tube. It should be examined once or 
twice a day, and more frequently when the feed-water 
is very dirty. This is done by shutting the upper 
and opening the lower cock, which will give water; 
the latter subsequently being shut off and the former 
opened, steam will appear. 

If steam and water do not appear in proper order, 
the cocks are choked and should be cleaned. 


12 


THE FIREMAN S GUIDE. 


The bottom-cock must be opened cautiously, as the 
glass is liable to burst. The glass-cocks should always 
be perfectly tight, and as their being kept clean is of 
great importance, they should be so arranged as to be 
easily cleaned out. 

Glass-gauges with a narrow white stripe running 
the whole length of the glass on the side toward the 
boiler are recommended as showing the water-line 
more clearly, especially when the water is very dirty. 

The Float. 

The float is carried on the water surface and shows 
the water-line by means of an index or a recorder. 
It should be examined a few times a day by slowly 
raising or lowering the balance-weight, and should 
the recorder show the same height after the test as 
before it, all is right; but if the float does not record 
properly, the cause is generally the packing, where 
the rod passes through the boiler-plate, being screwed 
up too tight or otherwise out of order. 

Safety Plug. 

Where fusible plugs are inserted in the crown of 
the furnace, these should be examined and carefully 
scraped clean when the boiler is being cleaned, both 
on the water and fire side. This being neglected, 
they soon cease to be of use, as so heavy sediments of 
soot and scale fasten to them that they are liable not 
to melt, even when there is no water covering the 
crown of the furnace. 

The fusible plug should be exchanged every year, 
as it is useless for its purpose when old. 


THE FIREMAN’S GUIDE. 


13 


Alarm Whistle. 

When the float is connected with an alarm whistle, 
it is to be borne in mind that the whistle does not 
give its signal until the water has sunk below the 
point allowed; the fireman, accordingly, has already 
neglected his duty when it is heard. 


Chapter III. 

LOW WATER AND FOAMING OR PRIMING. 

Low Water 

Will be found to exist— 

1. By insufficient feed. 

2. By foaming, or priming. 

3. By leakage. 

If, owing to one of these causes, the water should 
have sunk so low that any part of the boiler touched 
by the flames or the hottest gases is above the water 
surface, the plate in this place is rapidly heated and 
probably burnt, which seriously weakens its strength, 
thus causing danger of explosion. 

Precautions when the Water is too Low. 

If the water has sunk below the point allowed, it 
being made sure, however^ that it still remains above 
the highest point reached by the flames, the fire 
should be choked by partly closing the damper, in 
order to leave but little draft, and by opening the 
furnace door, and also throwing on new fuel. Water 
should afterward be fed in to the necessary height, 
and the firing then continue as before. 



14 


THE FIREMAN’S GUIDE. 


If the fireman cannot malce sure hoiv low the water 
has sunk, and if there is already danger of its having 
fallen below the highest point touched by the flames, 
the fire should be rapidly drawn. Should any diffi¬ 
culties he offered to this course, or the fire be burning 
with a strong flame, or the crown of the furnace show 
signs of being red-hot, the fire should be choked with 
damp ashes, slag or soil or anything similar that is at 
hand, the furnace door and the damper should subse¬ 
quently be left wide open, and the ash-pan doors be 
closed, in order to cool off the boiler rapidly. 

Water must by no means be put in, and the steam- 
pressure must not be lowered by a quick exhaust of 
steam. If feeding be going on and if the throttle- 
valve be open, they should continue so, and care 
should always be taken that no sudden interruption 
in the action of the boiler should be effected. The 
safety-valve must not be touched, either if it be blow¬ 
ing off or be closed. 

Not until the boiler is perfectly cool, and it has 
been carefully examined and found to have suffered 
no damage, is water to be fed in and the fire started. 

Where these precautions are quickly taken, ex¬ 
plosions will generally be prevented, but they are in¬ 
evitable when the fireman loses his presence of mind 
and neglects to follow the above rules. 

Foaming 1 or Priming. 

This is a violent ebullition of the water in the boiler 
and is generally caused by— 

1. The firing or feeding not being done regularly. 

2. The water-line being too high, or the steam-room 
too small. 

3. The evaporating surface being too small. 


THE FIREMAN’S GUIDE. 


15 


4. The throttle-valve being opened too rapidly. 

5. The feed-water not being pure, especially when 
it contains fat substances. 

6. The boiler not being clean. 

Some authorities on steam make a distinction be¬ 
tween priming and foaming referring the former to 
causes 1 to 4 and the latter to 5 and 6, but such a dis¬ 
tinction is of little importance. 

When foaming occurs, the water is carried with the 
steam and enters the cylinders, when the steam is used 
for an engine, impeding the motion of the piston, caus¬ 
ing it to move irregularly. If too much water enters 
the cylinder, there is danger of knocking a head out. 

It can become so excessive as to cause a scarcity of 
water in the boiler. 

Foaming or priming may be perceived by a sudden 
rising and falling of the water-line in the glass-gauge, 
and in steam-engines by a cracking noise in the cylin¬ 
ders. It can be overcome, or at least decreased, by 
2 )artially closing the throttle-valve , rapidly feeding in 
water and opening the furnace door. 


Chapter IV. 

STEAM PRESSURE. 

Steam Pressure. 

This should never be allowed to exceed the highest 
limit. If the steam-gauge shows so rapid an increase 
of pressure as to give danger of exceeding the highest 
limit, water should be immediately fed in and the 
damper partially closed, in order to diminish the 
effect of the fire. If the pressure should exceed what 
is allowed, the furnace doors should be opened and 



16 


THE FIREMAN’S GUIDE. 


the ash-pan doors shut and the feeding apparatus 
should afterward he started; hut if the water has 
fallen so low that there is any danger from that cause, 
then the feed must not be started. 

The Steam Gauge. 

The steam-gauge should be so applied as to he 
easily seen by the fireman, and there should be a 
plain mark on it showing the highest pressure allowed 
in the boiler. Where spring gauges are used, as is now 
generally the case, they should be frequently compared 
with a quicksilver or metal control gauge. A quick¬ 
silver gauge with float being used, it should be fre¬ 
quently examined by slowly pulling the string, to 
make sure that the float moves freely in the tube. See 
that the finger points to zero when there is no pres¬ 
sure in the boiler. A two-way cock should be applied 
for closing the connection between the steam-gauge 
and the boiler, and at the same time to let in air to 
the steam-gauge ; this cock must be used a few times 
daily, in order to see that the steam-gauge finger 
points to zero when steam-pressure is cut off, and it 
should always be kept clean. 

Safety Valves. 

The safety-valve must be loaded in such a manner 
as to blow off sufficient steam that the highest pres¬ 
sure limit in the boiler shall not be exceeded, and 
this load must never he increased. In some cases it 
is a good plan to have this weight so arranged as to be 
inaccessible to the fireman. 

The valve is examined by slowly raising it a little, 
and, when let down, it should close perfectly tight. 


THE FIREMAN’S GUIDE. 


17 


If it does not close tight, turn it on its seat until it 
fits, or, where its construction does not permit this 
proceeding, raise it slowly a few times and let it down 
again. This not being sufficient, grind it to fit when 
the boiler is cool. 

The valve must never be opened by a sudden knock 
or pull, and it is essential that the load must by no 
means be increased to make the valve tight . 

The fireman is cautioned against hanging his din¬ 
ner-pail, his shovel, or his boots to dry on the safety 
valve lever, as the writer has seen done. 

When cleaning the boiler, all parts of the safety- 
valve should be examined to make sure that they are 
in order, and that the valve can rise from its seat to 
the proper height. 


Chapter V. 

CLEANING AND BLOWING OUT. 

Cleaning the Boiler. 

Dirt is removed from the boiler by washing and 
blowing out partially or totally. 

When the boiler is to be cleaned, the water should 
not be blown out by steam-pressure ; it should remain 
in the boiler while it is cooling and should be let out 
through the blow-off cock and the mud holes. All 
mud plugs and man and hand hole covers are to be 
removed, the scale is to be loosened by light knocks 
with a hammer and the boiler to be washed inside 
with clean water. For this purpose water with pres¬ 
sure from a hose-pump or water-works is conveniently 



18 


THE FIREMAN’S GUIDE. 


used. The scale should be removed as soon as possi¬ 
ble after the water has been let out, as there is con¬ 
siderable difficulty in detaching it, if allowed to dry 
and harden. 

All pipes and cocks should be examined, and all 
parts, inside and outside, most carefully looked after. 
The blow-off cock should be taken apart and oiled, 
and it should be seen that it is tight and works easily. 
The feed-pipes particularly are to be examined that 
they be not choked by sediment, which frequently 
occurs where there is a bend and at the inlet to the 
boiler 

Scale and sediment are generally deposited where 
the heat is strongest, and the plate around the fur¬ 
nace and flues should therefore be carefully cleaned ; 
they are most dangerous in these places, as prevent¬ 
ing, when grown too thick, the water from touching 
the plate, which is liable to turn red-hot and lose its 
necessary strength. The furnace, flues, and ash-pan 
should also be cleaned of soot and ashes. 


To Examine the State of the Boiler. 

When cleaning inside, it should be seen that there 
are no corrosions of importance in the sheet-seams 
and the cement packings of the manholes and pipe- 
flanges, these places being chiefly liable to corrosion ; 
and also that the stays and braces are in good order. 

All defects should, of course, be remedied as soon 
as possible. 

The outside of the boiler is to be well protected 
from moisture, and if the boiler is set up in brick- 


THE FIREMAN’S GUIDE. 


19 


work, it should be seen to that there is no dampness 
in it, as serious oxidations might be occasioned. 

Before screwing up the manhole and other covers, 
care should be taken that nothing is left in the boiler. 

Blowing' Out Partially. 

It is blown out partially by opening the bottom 
blow-off while pressure is on the boiler, and letting a 
portion of the water out, when the sediment, haying 
sunk to the bottom, is blown out with it. The best 
result is obtained if the water has been in rest for 
some time, thus giving the sediment time to settle. 

When a surface cock is attached to the boiler, it 
may be used instead of the bottom-cock, when blow¬ 
ing out partially, and it is used with more advantage 
when the feed-water contains salts. 

The Best Time to Blow Out. 

Boilers in shops and manufactories not working at 
night should be blown out partially in the morning , 
shortly after the fire is started. It is usually blown 
out so that the water-line falls one or one and a half 
inches; the corresponding quantity of water should, 
of course, be fed in the evening before, in order to 
have the average water-line after blowing out. The 
rest at noon is also a good opportunity for blowing 
out. 

It is due to the purity of the feed-water as to how 
often such blowing out should be done ; this being 
very dirty, it should be blown out every morning and 
noon. 


20 


THE FIREMAN’S GUIDE. 


Blowing* Out Totally. 

All the water should be blown out only as a means 
of necessity, a more complete change of water being 
necessary than can be attained by a partial blow out. 
It is performed in the same way, but should never be 
done under a higher steam-pressure than fifteen or 
twenty pounds. The fire should be extinguished be¬ 
fore blowing out. Some water should always be left 
in the boiler, as its cooling off might take place so 
irregularly as to cause leaks. The doors and dampers 
are to be closed in order to facilitate a gradual cool¬ 
ing. 

It can be told from the sound of the running water 
when the blow-off cock is to be closed, sufficient water 
being left when it flows unevenly and carries steam. 
To prevent the forming of a vacuum in the boiler 
when the steam is condensed, the gauge-cocks should 
be opened after blowing, unless the boiler is provided 
with an automatic air-valve which lets in the air 
when the pressure has fallen to a certain limit. 

Refilling the Boiler. 

When cold water is used, the boiler should be re¬ 
filled very cautiously, and not until it is perfectly 
cool. When hot ivater is used, the hoiler should 
he hot, which is to be preferred, there being no such 
liability to sudden and irregular changes of temper¬ 
ature as when using cold water. 



THE FIREMAN’S GUIDE. 


21 


Chapter YI. 

GENERAL DIRECTIONS. 

How to Prevent Accidents. 

In order to prevent accidents the fireman must 
never neglect— 

1. To watch most carefully that there may never 
be too little water in the boiler. 

2. To see that the steam-pressure must never ex¬ 
ceed the highest limit. 

3. To clean the boiler frequently and thoroughly. 

4. To note that all the apparatus and other parts 
of the boiler are always in complete working order. 

Repairs. 

All defects of the boiler and its parts must be re¬ 
paired as soon as possible, should they seem to be of 
ever so little importance, and leaks and other untiglit- 
ness should especially not be allowed to continue long. 

Never neglect to report to your superiors what you 
suspect to be wrong about your boiler, or you will be 
responsible for the consequences. Many times boilers 
explode, and whether the fireman survives the catas¬ 
trophe or not, he is charged with neglect, when the 
cause probably was a defective boiler. 

The Care of the Boiler when Hot in Use. 

When the boiler is not to be used for some time, 
either the water should be let out and the boiler care¬ 
fully cleaned and wiped and means be taken to pro¬ 
tect it from moisture, or it should be pumped quite 


22 


THE FIREMAN’S GUIDE. 


full of water. The furnace and flues should be swept 
and cleaned; ashes and slag to be raked out and 
carried away. It may be here mentioned that damp 
ashes form a very strong corrosive, and will seriously 
injure any plates with which they come in contact, if 
allowed to stand any length of time. 

Finished iron surfaces should be covered with a 
composition of tallow and white lead, in order to 
prevent rust. 

Testing the Boiler. 

A repair of any importance having been made, and 
whenever a man of experience thinks it necessary (at 
any rate every five years), the holler should he tested 
by pumping in water. When under test, the boiler 
is generally exposed to an effective pressure of twice 
the highest allowed when it is in use, but the work¬ 
ing pressure should not be exceeded by more than 
seventy-five to one hundred pounds. 

Trimming and Cleaning Outside. 

The cocks, valves and all brass or copper pipes 
should always be kept clean and bright, and ashes, 
slag or water must never be allowed to gather around 
the grate or ash-pan. The floor, ceiling and walls of 
the boiler-room are also to be frequently cleaned in 
order to afford safety against fire. 

Every good fireman will take pains to have every¬ 
thing look neat and clean around his boiler. 




THE FIREMAN’S GUIDE. 


23 


SUMMARY 0 E RULES. 


Before starting the fire take note— 

1. That there is sufficient water in the boiler; 

2. That the glass-gauge or float shows the true 
water-line; 

3. That the grate and tubes are clean, and that the 
grate-bars are in their right positions; 

4. That the upper gauge-cock is open to let out the 
air from the boiler ; 

5. That the feed apparatus is in order; 

6. That the dampers and doors move easily; 

7. That all other parts of the boiler are in good 
condition. 

After starting the fire and steam-pressure, take note— 

1. That the joints and packings are tight; 

2. That the cocks and valves move freely. 

Let the fire' develop slowly in order to heat the 
loiter gradually , rapid heating being detrimental to 
the life of the boiler. 

Fire evenly and regularly . After every firing, for 
a short while, keep the air-holes open or the furnace 
door ajar. Put in the fuel in small quantities and 
frequently, and keep the grate continually covered 
with afire of equal thickness . Cover over bare spots 
with fresh fuel. Never put in coal of larger size than 
your fist. 

Fire rapidly, and don’t keep the furnace door open 
longer than necessary. Regulate the depth of the fire 
by the quality of the fuel, and so regulate the draft 
as to make the fire burn with a bright flame, equally 



24 


THE FIREMAN’S GUIDE. 


all oyer the grate. Prevent as much as possible dark 
smoke issuing from the chimney. 

j Don't stir the fire except 'when necessary. 

Clean the fire ivlien needed. Never leave slag and 
ashes on the floor before the furnace. 

Keep the openings between the grate-bars well 
cleaned, and never let too many ashes gather in the 
ash-pan. 

Never shut the damper entirely while there is fire 
on the grate. At short stops in the work, shut off 
the damper a little so as to keep the fire burning 
slowly. The day’s work over, it is best to draw the 
fire and clean the grate. 

See that the fuel is dry, when used. 

Regulate the feed as evenly as possible, so as to keep 
the water-line constant. 

Use the purest water to be obtained. 

The feed apparatus working badly is generally due 
to— 

1. Leakage of the suction pipe ; 

2. Choking in the pipes ; 

3. The valves not being tight or being checked in 
some way ; 

4. The feed-water being too hot; or 

5. The pump being heated. 

If there is a test-cock on the pump, examine if the 
pump is working properly. 

Note that the water-line does not vary, and par¬ 
ticularly see that it never falls too low. 

If the water has fallen below the point allowed, 
there being no danger, however, of too low water, 
choke the fire by partially closing the damper, put 
in new fuel, and open the furnace door. Subsequently 


THE FIREMAN’S GUIDE. 


25 


start the feed quickly to obtain the proper height 
of water. 

If there is danger from, the water having fallen too 
low, draw the fire rapidly. Should there be any diffi¬ 
culties to this proceeding or the fire be burning with 
a strong flame, choke the fire with damp ashes, slag, 
soil, or anything similar that is at hand; then keep 
the furnace doors and dampers wide open and close 
the ash-pan doors. The steam-pressure must by no 
means be decreased by feeding in water or suddenly 
blowing off steam. If the feed apparatus is working or 
the throttle-valve be open, let them remain as they 
are for a short time, and when you close them, do so 
very cautiously. Don’t touch the safety-valve, either 
if it be open or closed, and always avoid as much as 
possible all sudden interruptions of the action of the 
boiler. 

To overcome foaming, close the throttle-valve, feed 
in water rapidly, and open the furnace doors. 

Turn the gauge-cocks open a few times daily. 

Examine the glass-gauge once or twice a day that it 
shows the true water-line. 

When a float is used, examine frequently that it 
moves freely. 

Keep the steam-pressure even, and never allow it to 
rise above the limit. 

Should the pressure exceed the limit, open the 
furnace doors and start the feed apparatus. 

Take notice that the steam-gauge is in order. 

The safety-valve should be so loaded as to blow off 
sufficient steam to prevent the steam-pressure from 
increasing above the limit. The determined load 
must never be increased. 


2G 


THE FIREMAN’S GUIDE. 


Examine daily that the safety-valve moves freely 
and is tight. 

Always open the throttle-valve slowly. 

Clean the boiler inside frequently and carefully; 
for this purpose let the water out, and don’t start the 
cleaning until the boiler has had time to cool. If, 
however, there is not time to do so, let in cold water 
to mix with the hot in the boiler, in order to cool it 
the sooner. Be careful, however, that cold water 
does not come in contact with the hot plate. 

Examine and clean all cocks, valves and pipes, and 
look to all joints and packings, while cleaning the 
boiler, and look carefully that there be no important 
corrosions inside. 

Such corrosions generally occur in the seams and 
around joints. 

Blow off partially once or twice a day according as 
the water is more or less pure. Close the blow-off 
when the water has sunk one to one and a half inches. 

Protect the outside of the boiler from all moisture. 

Repair as soon as possible all defects on the boiler 
or its parts, especially leaks, etc. 

Always take care that the boiler and its parts are in 
good order, and keep all finished surfaces bright. 

Never let water remain on the floor about the 
boiler. Clean the boiler-room frequently, and take 
care that everything there is kept neat and in good 
order. 



INDEX. 


Page. 

Alter Starting tlie Fire..3 

Alarm Whistle.13 

Arrangements for Ascertaining the Water-line. . . .11 

Best Time to Blow out..19 

Blowing Out Partially..19 

“ “ Totally. . . ..20 

Care of the Boiler when not in Use. . . . .21 

Care of the Fire..3 

“ “ during Short Stops in the Work. . 7 

Causes of Foaming.14 

Cleaning out..3 

Cleaning the Boiler. . . . . • • • .17 

Cleaning the Grate bars and Ash-pan.6 

Decreasing the Draft, etc. ....... 6 

Defective Feeding Apparatus.10 

Do not Stir the Fire.6 

Dry Fuel.® 

False Water-line. 9 

Feeding.. 9 

Fire and Clean Out Rapidly. 5 

Firing into Two or more Furnaces.7 

Formation of Scale. . • • • • • • .10 

Fuel on the Grate. .^ 

How to Prevent Accidents. 21 








INDEX. 


Page • 

Loss of Heat.. 8 

Low Water.13 

Precautions before Starting the Fire. .... 2 

“ as to Closing the Dampers, etc ... 7 

“ when the Water is Low. . . . .13 

“ on Drawing the Fire..7 

Progress of Firing. ........ 4 

Prop r Firing.3 

Refilling the Boiler.20 

Regulating the Draft. ....... 4 

Repairs. .......... 21 

Safety Plug. 12 

Safety Valves. ..16 

Smoke from the Chimney. 4 

Steam-Pressure.15 

Testing the Boiler..22 

The Float.12 

“ Gauge Cocks and Glass Gauge.11 

“ Steam Gauge...16 

“ Water.. . .10 

“ Water-line.9 

To Examine the State of the Boiler. . . . .18 

Trimming and Cleaning Outside..22 












LIST OF BOOKS 


RELATING TO 

Steam Engines and Boilers. 

Ainsley, Thomas L. The Engineers’ Manual of the 
Local Marine Board Examinations, for certificates of 
competency, as second and first-class engineers. Twen¬ 
ty-first edition. With upwards of 150 illustrative dia¬ 
grams. 573 pages, 8vo, cloth $3.00 

Burgh, N. P. A practical treatise on Steam Boilers. 
Second edition, illustrated with wood engravings and 
folding plates. 4to, half morocco 30.00 

- A pocket-book of Practical Buies for the Proportion 

of Modern Engines and Boilers for Land and Marine 
purposes. Seventh edition, revised with Appendix. 
32mo, roan 1.50 

Colyer, F. A treatise on Modern Steam Engines and Boil¬ 
ers, including Land, Locomotive, and Marine Engines 
and Boilers, for the use of students. 46 large folding 
plates, 4to, cloth 10.00 

Compound Boiler. How to Use it and “Bun” it at Sea, 
explaining causes of all corrosion and the formation of 
Scale. By a Sea-going Engineer. 8vo, paper .40 

Cotterill, Jas. H. The Steam Engine considered as a 
Heat Engine : a treatise on the Theory of the Steam 
Engine, illustrated by diagrams, tables, and examples 
from practice. 8vo, cloth 5.00 

Fletcher, W. The Abuse of the Steam Jacket practically 
considered, with a statement of some of the require¬ 
ments for obtaining beneficial results. Illustrated. 
12mo, paper 1.25 

Foden, J. The Boiler-maker’s and Iron Ship-builder’s Com¬ 
panion, comprising a series of original and carefully 
calculated tables, of the utmost utility to persons inter¬ 
ested in the Iron Trades. 12mo, cloth 2.00 




LIST OF BOOKS. 


Reed’s Engineers’ Handbook— To the Local Marine 
Board Examinations for Certificates of Competency as 
first and second class ^engineers. By W. H. Thorn. 
With the answers to the elementary questions. Illustra¬ 
ted by 260 diagrams and 36 large plates. Eleventh 
edition, revised and enlarged. 8vo, cloth 4.50 

Rigg, A. A practical treatise on the Steam Engine, con¬ 
taining plans and arrangements of details for fixed 
steam engines, with essays on the principles involved in 
design and construction. Illustrated with engravings 
and 96 plates. 4to, cloth 10.00 

Salter, Frank. Economy in the Use of Steam, a state¬ 
ment of the best principles on which a saving of Steam 
may be best effected. Crown 8vo, cloth 1.50 

Sexton, M. J. A pocket-book for Boiler Makers and Steam 
Users, comprising a variety of useful information for 
employer and workman, government inspectors, board 
of trade surveyors, engineers in charge of works and 
slips, foremen of manufactories, and the general steam 
using public. Second edition, revised and enlarged. 
32mo, roan 2.00 

■Uliland, W. H. Corliss Engine and allied Steam Motors, 
working with or without Automatic variable Expansion 
Gear, including the most approved Designs of all Coun¬ 
tries. Translated from the German with additions by 
A. Tolhausen. In two volumes. Text in 4to and 60 
photo-lithographed working drawings in folio, bound in 
half morocco 38.00 

Welch, E. J. C. A treatise on a practical method of de¬ 
signing Slide Valve Gearing by simple geometrical con¬ 
struction. Crown 8vo, cloth 1.50 

Zeuner, Dr. [Gustav. Treatise on Valve-Gears, with 
special consideration of the Link-motion of Locomotive 
Engines. Translated from the fourth German edition, 

' by Prof. J. F. Klein. Illustrated by 6 plates. 8vo, 
cloth 5.00 

***Descriptive Catalogue of Books sent free on application .*** 


E. & F. N. SPON, 35 Murray St., New York. 





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